Green products continue to be the major focus in the lawn and garden industry as we move into the 2010 season. At the recently held Garden Writers Symposium which wraps up in Raleigh, NC this week, numerous products and plants were highlighted which focused on sustainable and environmentally friendlier ways to deal with garden problems.
One surprise was the wide assortment of Garden Naturals products offered by the Bonide Company. Their assortment of organic, natural, botanical and biological products for use in the garden and around home was a big surprise. As other manufacturers like Bayer, Central Garden and Scotts try to fit into the growing organic trend, Bonide has been there since their founding in 1926 providing both natural and traditional chemical controls to gardeners without fanfare and hype. The result is a portfolio of over 60 natural products which includes insect controls, repellents, fungicides, weed killers and other specialty products.
Two products which were especially interesting were Mouse Magic, a natural mouse repellent made from peppermint and spearmint oil, and the newly expanded Captain Jacks Dead Bug Brew line of natural insect control formulated with Spinosad. Mouse Magic is a scent based repellent which comes in a place pack which looks like a tea bag. The packet is placed in a room or area where, according to the Bonide representative - "you don't want mice and you especially don't want DEAD mice." The mint smell irritates the eyes and nose of the mouse making it move out. The scent is pleasant for humans, and according to the rep, when you can't smell it it's time to replace it.
Captain Jacks Dead Bug Brew is a funny name for an insect control product, but the name points to the fact that the bacterium from which this effective organic insect control is made was discovered in the ruins of a rum distillery somewhere in the Caribbean. The insecticide, Spinosad, is a product of the Dow company, and is formulated in a concentrate, ready to use and dust formulation by Bonide for consumer use. According to Bonide, the toxicity profile is very favorable on non target insects and on mammals, pets and humans. Spinosad is effective on a number of difficult to control insects including thrips, aphids, caterpillars and beetles. It can be used on ornamentals as well as edibles, and can be used up to the day of harvest on many edible crops.
Bonide is expanding it's distribution nationwide, and should be available in independent garden centers, hardware stores and nurseries everywhere.
The Bonide website: www.bonide.com can point you to your local retailer carrying the Bonide line of products.
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